Mr. Harvey Welch attended Centralia Township Junior College and was the Blue Devils’ Basketball Team’s leading scorer and set a new record.He then went on to Southern Illinois University and became a basketball All- Star, a distinguished Military Air Force ROTC student and received his commission as a 2ndLieutenant.

Harvey entered the United States Air Force in June 1955 and retired in 1975 as a Lieutenant Colonel; having served as a Training Officer, Administrative Officer, Squadron Commander, Group Operations Officer, Higher Education Program Manager, Director of Air Force Civilian Institutions Special Programs, Professor of Aerospace Students and Commandant of Cadets and the Training Advisor to the Commandant of the Turkish Air Force.From 1975 until 1999, Harvey served as the Dean of Student Life, Vice President and later Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at SIU-C. From February 1995 until December 1997, he was the Chief Student officer at SIU Edwardsville, in addition to his duties at SIU-C; responsible for Financial Aid, university housing, student health, student recreation, the Student Center, and student development and activities.

Mr. Welch served in professional and community organizations as the State President of the Illinois Guidance Association, Regional Vice President in the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, as a member of the National Board of Directors for the American Personnel and Guidance Association, The Police and Fire Commission, Park District Board, Tourism Board, the International Rotary Club President and the District Governorand is active in his church.